Nellie employs a combination of true and false behaviors strategically to create a convincing portrayal of insanity, showcasing her deceptive abilities and making it challenging for others to discern the authenticity of her mental state.
Nellie adopts a range of behaviors to project an image of mental instability:
Resembles Judge Duffy's dead sister: True. This deliberate attempt to mirror someone's deceased relative contributes to the confusion surrounding her identity.
Fixates on finding her trunks: True. Nellie's obsessive focus on finding her trunks is a manifestation of peculiar behavior.
Barks like a dog and flashes her teeth in court: True. Engaging in such unconventional actions during court proceedings adds to the perception of erratic behavior.
Accuses the people around her of being foreigners: True. Accusing others of being foreigners demonstrates a paranoid mindset, supporting the facade of instability.
Tells the judge about the home for working women she helps to run: True. Presenting seemingly rational and benevolent activities adds complexity to her act.
Pretends not to know where she is from: True. Intentionally introducing an element of inconsistency by claiming ignorance about her origin contributes to her act.
Stays up all night and says her housemates are crazy: True. Behaving as if her housemates are crazy and staying up all night further perpetuates the illusion of mental disturbance.
Dresses well and speaks in perfect English: False. Dressing well and speaking in perfect English contradicts conventional expectations of insanity, intentionally subverting stereotypes.